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Sunday, 31 January 2016

EXPLOSIVE OIL FIELDS OF NIGER DELTA

Recent bombings
of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta again raise the spectre of escalation of
conflicts in the region. While we cannot say the reasons for the incidents, it
does appear to be calculated acts of sabotage rather than mere vandalism.

In cases of
vandalism, the motive routinely is the stealing of crude oil or refined petroleum
products. Where pipelines are bombed in the manner the current incidents have
been reported, the signal is that these are political actions. However, no one
has claimed responsibility. That is against the grain.

It should be
noted that political actions do not have to be partisan in nature as they can
be carried out by persons or groups that are simply disenchanted with existing
political system. They could also be orchestrated by persons or groups whose
vested interests are threatened. If these are agreed as possibilities, we
should be able to come to the conclusion that the recent bombings may not
necessarily be the handiwork of militants. Fishing for culprits would require
extra-wide nets.

Militancy in
the Niger Delta arose as a result of accrued disenchantment with both the
government and the transnational corporations over minimal expectations from
the local population. The fact of oil being so alluring cannot be denied. It
always offers communities dreams and hopes of social services, employment, infrastructural
improvements and dramatic societal transformation. What is offered in reality
has routinely been environmental degradation, disruption of social structures,
corruption, disease and death.

Sadly,
communities in countries where crude oil is discovered are still being offered
the same promises that the resource scarcely delivers. And as sure as fire
burns, the hopes and promises are bound to be dashed. And then the conflicts
start.

Oil theft,
bush refineries and related businesses operate at an industrial scale in the
Niger Delta. Unfortunately. When poorly maintained facilities are added to the
mix, the result is extremely toxic and the consequences are well documented.
Responses have often reinforced the crises, rather than mitigate them.

What has
been the response to the recent bombing of pipelines including those in the
Gbaramatu area of Delta State? Predictably the response has been heavy
militarisation of the area. The question is, to what extent can militarisation
protect the over 7000 kilometres of pipelines in the Niger Delta. We hope the
reign of the gunboats in the Niger Delta will not lead to a replay of the
levelling of communities that was virtually routine a few years ago.

Looking
back, we recall that in 2009, attacks at Odi cut down 2,483 persons, while
another heavy handed attack occurred at Odioma in 2005. In May 2009, the
military response to militancy saw the massive destruction of Gbaramatu
community. In December 2010, there was a replay of the same scenario at
Ayakoromo, where at least 20 persons were killed.

All these
avoidable attacks on communities were said to be legitimate ways of smoking out
militants from their hideouts in the communities. It is not clear how many
militants were captured through those punishing assaults on communities.

Government
should ensure that the current patrolling of the creeks of the Niger Delta do
not lead to attacks on communities. Where individuals offend the law, such
individuals should face the law. Whole communities should never be punished for
the sins of one person or groups of persons. Military actions in
fragile communities only entrench miseries and further ecological
tragedies.

Militancy
based on the platform of political (non-partisan) agitation requires deep
interrogations. Often, such conflicts require political solutions. Some of us
were surprised at the success of the amnesty programme especially when seen
that the programme was in part a panic measure as pipelines were erupting and
oil production and related revenues were dwindling.

More than
the cash pay-outs, it must be the other actions, including education and skills
acquisition that did the trick. Despite the success of the amnesty programme
and the militarisation of the Niger Delta we cannot say that sustainable peace
has been constructed in the region. We can understand why some persons are
perplexed that despite the heavy investment in infrastructural projects
disenchantment is still endemic in the region. That is why the petroleum
economy is a negative economy – whether the price of crude is as high as gas
flare stacks or as low as the bottom of the barrels.

Much more
than patrolling the creeks and cowering innocent citizens to raise their hands
in surrender to military might when they pass the ubiquitous checkpoints wherever
pipelines crossed the creeks, there must be ways or rebuilding dignity among
our peoples.

We have to
rebuild our brotherhood and sisterhood with one another and restore the
motherhood of the earth. We need conversations more than contracts. We need
listening posts not more trenches. Open the prison doors. Those locked up
outside of this country should be brought back home. We have to rebuild our
communities. Communities are the best policemen of pipelines in their
environments. (Guardian)

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